LeeRoth wrote on 05/24/21 at 18:08:52:
The coverage of the Rauzer is excellent and makes use of Shankland's own games. I've gone through most of 6.Bg5 and 6.Bc4, checked the lines with an engine and database, and feel I could play these lines at a decent level.
There are two recent books on the Kozul variation (8...b4). Yermolinksy also covered it in a video series on the ICC. I think it is acceptable for black, but it takes a commitment to master or feel comfortable with the line. Some of the lines are a little long for my tastes, but I can always change my mind.
Shankland proceeds instead with the Spassky (8...Be7) line. If Shankland demonstrates that black is hanging in there, then the book/course is probably worth the time and money from someone who wants to play the Classical. I have not bought this, nor any other, Chessable product. This could be my first purchase. I wonder if ...Be7 theory ends a little sooner than in the ...b5 lines. Perhaps more like a taxi than a train.
The motivation of the Kozul is to retain the option of playing ...Bh6. Obviously 8...Be7 takes the bishop in the opposite direction. Yet while scanning a few games I noticed one where black played Be7, later 0-0-0, Re8, Bf8 and Bh6! Granted this is a long way around. Yet it is a reminder that these two lines are part of a single family. I suspect that if one is comfortable with one, one is likely to be comfortable with the other, and if not comfortable with one, then not comfortable with either.
I think the consensus that the Classical is fine outside of the Richter-Rauzer is correct. The Sozin-Fischer-Velimirovic lines are dangerous, but not an extinction level threat. The evaluation of the Richter-Rauzer is critical to the evaluation of the Classical Sicilian.
I suppose a quick-out is provided by Dubov's 6...g6. The move is hard to believe, as are Dubov's results. In 2021 he played 7 games, winning 4 and drawing 3. 5 opponents were rated above 2700, one above 2600 and one above 2500.
As white I've faced the Dubov line in a couple of speed games. We did not know much theory and I prevailed. However the computer was not impressed, and found messy equality for black after only a few moves.